If you are thinking of renting the entire house and living elsewhere, removing the tenants when the property is sold could end up being an expensive and drawn out affair involving courts & bailiffs. Also, many potential purchasers would be put off knowing tenants are in place, and it would certainly reduce the value of any offers.
Remaining in the house and taking in a lodger would ease your cash flow, would not impact on property value, and the lodger can be removed with as little as 24 hours notice.

Most (all ?) police forces have a specialist domestic abuse team. They recognise that abuse can take many forms: Physical, financial, emotional. Try to get your friend to talk to the D.A. team and find out what sort of assistance they can provide.

I have been renting a spare room for a year or so now. Had a lodger, that for one reason or another, required the involvement of the police. Her licence to occupy was rescinded there and then, and locks changed the following day. Her belongings were collected a couple of days later by a neutral third party.
Whilst I would agree that up to a month's notice would be appropriate in most situations, when faced with abuse or threats, summary notice would be a reasonable response.

In my opinion, he isn't a tenant as he has shared use of the kitchen, bathroom, and possibly other areas of the house. If he had been paying rent, then then perhaps he could claim to be a lodger, but this wouldn't offer much protection.
Changing the locks whilst he is out and calling the police if he attempts to break in would be one way of getting him out. Certainly, if he is abusive and controlling, then the police should have been involved sooner.

They do not get a choice in the matter. They can always get the solicitor to provide a certified copy of the will before sending the original off with the probate application.
Do you know who the executor is who has been named in the will ?

Philips and Cohen specialise in recovering debts from the deceased. Often resorting to stretching the truth as to who is responsible for repaying the debt and hounding the living.
The grant of probate gives you the power and authority to act as if the deceased was still living (in my opinion). If MBNA is not prepared to play ball, then complain to the ICO, and should P&C make contact, refuse to deal with them until such time as you have all the required information. P&C won't supply any data regarding the debt, but they may prod MBNA to do so.

You can certainly put in for a mandatory reconsideration. If they say "out of time", there have been more than one tribunal ruling knocking back the DWP time limits. You have solid grounds for a MR as the decision has been made without having any evidence to hand. Quite shocking that they should make a decision based on a single paragraph form a (poorly) qualified "health worker".

The information provided by the probate search gives the date of death, the date probate was granted, and a reference number should you wish to purchase a copy of the documents. It is an indicator that the estate is in the process of being liquidated, but won't give any information as to how long it will take before the funds are distributed.
Depending on how complex the estate is, it could be steeled within twelve months, or it could take a couple of years. As an example, my grandfather's estate took over thirty years before any funds were distributed. Long story, but it involved misappropriation of funds by the executors and questionable activities by one solicitor in the early days.
In your situation, all I can suggest is to make regular inquiries with the executor, but do bear in mind that he will charge the estate a sizable fee each time.